Gangwon Province's 500 Billion Won New Office Plan Questioned Amid Safety Inspection Results

Gangwon Province is pushing ahead with plans to construct a new provincial office building, a project estimated to cost 500 billion won. The justification for this massive expenditure hinges on the supposed safety issues and aging infrastructure of the current facilities, which have been in use for decades. Governor Kim Jin-tae, during the groundbreaking ceremony, emphasized the move as a significant step for the province's elevated status as it transitions to a special self-governing province.

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This is the first relocation in 130 years since the Gangwon Provincial Office was established in 1896 during the reign of Emperor Gojong. It is the first relocation in 69 years based on the current provincial office building. The construction of the new provincial office building will be a turning point for a groundbreaking leap befitting the elevated status of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province.

The narrative presented by the provincial government highlighted the main building, constructed in 1957, as being in critical condition, with some reports even suggesting a risk of collapse due to inadequate seismic performance. However, a recent internal safety inspection revealed a different picture. The main building and its annex were rated C-grade, indicating that while minor repairs are needed, there are no immediate threats to structural safety. Other parts of the complex, including the provincial assembly buildings, also received favorable B-grade ratings.

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The main building (built in 1957) and the new building behind it (built in 1984), which are core areas including the offices of the Governor and Vice Governor, were both rated C-grade. C-grade is the middle of the five-step facility safety rating standard (Excellent (A) - Good (B) - Normal (C) - Unsatisfactory (D) - Poor (E)), meaning 'no safety issues with the building, requiring minor repairs and reinforcement of major components.'

This discrepancy has fueled controversy. Critics argue that the urgency for a new building was exaggerated, with only one of the four main structures initially assessed as D-grade, and even that has since been upgraded to C after repairs. Concerns are also raised about the province's financial priorities, especially since seismic reinforcement is a broader issue affecting numerous public buildings across Gangwon, including schools and hospitals, with a low overall reinforcement rate. Citizen groups advocate for prioritizing these essential reinforcements over the costly new office project.

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If there is a real concern about casualties due to an earthquake, the safety of public officials working at the provincial office is important, but seismic reinforcement for schools, daycare centers, and senior centers should be done first with the cost of the new provincial office building. Given Gangwon Province's poor financial situation, it is difficult to easily understand whether the new provincial office relocation, which requires enormous funds, is the right direction.

Furthermore, questions are being raised about the province's decision to opt for new construction over renovation. While Gangwon Province claims that renovating the existing structures would be excessively costly and administratively burdensome, details supporting this claim have not been publicly disclosed. Historical examples and government guidelines suggest that renovations can be more cost-effective and time-efficient than new builds. The case of Chungbuk Province, which has successfully maintained and upgraded its historic buildings through renovation, is often cited as a counterexample.

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Most buildings constructed without consideration for the efficient use of existing buildings have become luxurious and oversized buildings. Comparing new and renovated buildings in local governments since 2005, renovation was found to be significantly more efficient than new construction in terms of cost savings, construction time, and space utilization.